Art windows perk up downtown storefronts

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MIKE JORY &mdash; VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD
Oakland artist Reenie Charriere scatters some re-purposed plastic trash, picked up from around the world, as she creates her art installation in a Georgia Street storefront window, part of this year’s Vallejo Art Windows event in conjunction with the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend.

The hills may come alive with the sound of music, but — with apologies to Julie Andrews — downtown Vallejo comes alive with the sight of art.

And plenty of it.

The third annual Vallejo Art Windows is scheduled to be unveiled Oct. 4, timing the colorful splendor of 23 participants with the first day of the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend.

“This is an event that really impacts the downtown and Vallejo as a whole,” said Art Windows coordinator and artist Erin Bakke. “It has been something that folks have drawn inspiration from — the simple psychological fact that somebody has taken the time and effort to put something attractive in a barren window gives folks an inordinate sense of pride and hope.”

With art in many forms installed in what would be empty store fronts, “it allows Vallejoans to experience their downtown in a new light,” Bakke said, while also creating an opportunity for artists.

The project also functions as a fundraiser for the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation”s summer arts camp with a reception benefit Oct. 4 at the Temple Art Lofts at Marin and Virginia streets. About $5,000 was raised last year, Bakke said.

By bringing interest downtown, the art windows are also “a way to try and increase more commerce and retail downtown,” Bakke said.

One of the artists, Oakland”s Reenie Charriere, was happy about participating. Charriere used Thursday afternoon to put up much of her recycled plastic and cloth art in the window at 418 Georgia St., a storage space for a local discount store.

Charriere would walk the Oakland estuary, picking up pieces of plastic that washed ashore. It began a quest to collage someone else”s plastic trash as she also collected discarded plastic pieces along the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and during a visit to France.

“All these pieces of plastic have been collected by waterways,” she said, both “offended by the accumulation of plastic in oceans, but also intrigued by the colors and the forms.”

A visual artist since 2005, Charriere “enjoys the translucent quality of the plastic” that changes with the time of day and sunlight.

Black material Charriere integrates into her artwork “was about to be thrown out” by a school.

It”s about turning what may have become landfill or perhaps something that “maybe ends up on a ship to China” into usable art, Charriere said.

“It”s such a good idea,” JeanCherie said of the art windows project. “And a good cause. I love having my work here.”

Filling art in previously empty storefronts helps “uplift the spirit” of downtown, JeanCherie said. “I”m having a great time.”

Tobin is thrilled that “Vallejo arts is kind of taking over downtown and getting more people here. People may have a bad perception of downtown but it”s really changing. It”s becoming safer down here.”

Tobin said she witnessed Bakke “crazy busy” coordinating the project “and I saw the need to help.”

“Art windows are pretty cool,” Tobin said.

Art Windows partners include the CCRC, Downtown Arts and Entertainment committee, Vallejo Open Studios, and Vallejo Community Arts Foundation, said Bakke.

The art will be in the windows for a year — sooner if the property is sold or leased — Bakke said.